The storybook on our CPSHA weekend was written until the final page, but a string of events changed the course of that last page. A few late goals by BCS forced overtime and quickly the game ended in their favour. Credit to their lineup for their determination and quality play. The game was, as it always is when the two schools meet, a wonderful display of prep school hockey.

 

On Monday morning, as I put my tie back on to go and teach, the sting felt as fresh as the moment I saw the sticks fly in the air and saw all of my boys in red realizing in the end it wasn’t our day. I know you all gave your 100%, I will never question that.

 

I wrote to my parents and siblings Sunday morning, knowing that no matter what happened in the game, it was going to be my final one coaching at the Pat Burns Arena. I even said that no single moment today would define many years on that bench. I was emotional, vulnerable and most importantly proud. The text talked about how happy I felt helping this group of Spartans get the chance to play in a championship game.

 

At so many levels when your roster takes the hits ours did this year, you are supposed to look to next year. Instead, we looked inside and we challenged ourselves. We had our struggles, but we also overcame more than many would in our situation because we found a way to keep believing. Players developed new roles or expanded on current roles. We had players join us and learn with us and become parts of our collective success. We got better, we played better, and we became a team that understood and believed in what made us good.

 

When we left our CSSHL weekend with an 0-4 record, we called it “rock bottom.” I am not sure I had ever had an 0-4 record in 14 years coaching this team, but even at rock bottom, we didn’t change our sights, we maintained our goal. We didn’t yell or scream, we coached, taught and learned, we found ways to laugh on the bus home, we didn’t quit. Over the next nine games we went 8-1 and put ourselves into Sunday’s final. The storybook ending escaped us, but the journey and lessons will carry on. Sunday’s game will have a positive purpose in all of ours lives, but right now we just can’t see it, and I think that is okay for now. When that purpose is going to show up or how is a mystery, but that is part of the value of belief. We all must continue to believe, even in the tough times.

 

Late Sunday night, I wrote the following message to all the players: “There are no words to make anyone feel better in this moment, but from your coaches to you, we love you, and we’re proud of you. From January on, what you continued to do amazes me. I am forever happy to be a part of this group. Sleep well, boys.”

 

You see, at our Senior Day ceremony on Friday, I looked at our group and I asked them to grow together and be men not afraid to share their feelings. To find ways to live, laugh, learn and cry together. To stay connected as the distance between them grows larger when they leave campus and head out on new adventures. It is easy for all of us to lead when times are good, but it is important for us to lead when times are tough. Today is a tough day for our team, but I’ll be reminding the boys that we made it tough on ourselves because we believed in ourselves and found a way to put ourselves in that moment that ultimately created this feeling.

 

What should I have done? What could I have done? What did I do wrong? As a leader I am asking those questions of myself, but as a group I hope that you all help each other see that we all did what we thought was right and best. We all tried, we all showed up and gave our 100%. We are together and we will stick together, even when times are tough. That’s what teams are suppose to do, and that’s the way we have reacted at every turn.

 

Coach T